Evaluation of microencapsulated organic acids and botanicals on growth performance of nursery and growing-finishing pigs

A total of 1,215 pigs (L337 × 1050, PIC, Hendersonville, TN) were used to determine the effect of microencapsulated organic acids and botanicals (MOB; AviPlus; Vetagro, Inc. Chicago, IL), on growth performance from weaning to market. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d of age and placed in pens based on initial body weight (BW) with 27 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. During the 42-day nursery period, pigs were allotted to 1 of 2 treatments in an unbalanced treatment structure with 15 pens (replications) fed the control diet and 30 pens (replications) fed diets containing 0.30% MOB from d 0 to 21 and 0.10% from d 21 to 42. On d 42, pigs were transported as intact pens from the nursery to the finishing facility. During the finishing period, 3 treatments were applied which included: 1) pigs on the control diet in nursery remained on control diets; 2) 50% of pigs provided MOB in nursery were then fed 0.05% MOB throughout finishing, and 3) 50% of pigs provided MOB in nursery were then fed the control diet throughout finishing. All pens of pigs on treatments 2 and 3 were allotted based on ending nursery BW to the finishing treatment. There were 15 replications per treatment in the finishing period. From d 0 to 21, pigs fed diets with MOB had a tendency for increased (P < 0.058) gain:feed (G:F) when compared to pigs fed the control diet; however, there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), or d 21 BW. From d 21 to 42, there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for ADG, ADFI, or G:F. For the overall nursery period (d 0 to 42), pigs fed diets with MOB had increased (P < 0.05) G:F (660 vs 670 g/kg) when compared to pigs fed the control diet, but there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for d 42 BW, ADG, or ADFI between treatments. From d 42 to 106, there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for ADG, ADFI, and G:F. For the overall finishing period (d 42 to 156) and overall experimental period (d 0 to 156), there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for BW, ADG, ADFI, or G:F. For mortality and removals, there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) observed during the nursery, finishing, or overall. In summary, providing MOB during the nursery phase increased G:F in the early and overall nursery phase, but there was no effect on overall wean-to-finish performance.

Changing plans

There are many routes into the early years, but not all of these routes are originally planned into long term careers. Michelle Moore, manager at Little Angels Day Nursery and Prep School, Highbury, tells us about her unplanned journey.

Determining Suitable Thermal Regimes for Early Instar Redclaw Juveniles, Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) (Decapoda, Parastacidae), for a Proposed Nursery Phase

Modern, intensified aquaculture typically involves three production phases; hatchery, nursery, and grow-out. For redclaw crayfish aquaculture however, such delineation has been ill-defined. Farming of redclaw was initiated based on the putative beneficial physical and biological attributes of the species, which suggested production methods would be relatively simple. The simple approach proved to be inefficient and only partially effective, which hindered industry development. Hatchery technology now exists to supply seed stock for grow-out, but hatchery production is variable, and the performance of hatchery reared juveniles is inconsistent. A nursery phase has been proposed between hatchery production and grow-out of approximately 3 weeks duration, sufficient to allow 2 or more moults. An important primary parameter in the proposed nursery phase is the thermal regime that will support optimum survival and growth. This study quantified the effect of temperature on the growth and survival of redclaw juveniles for a 22-day nursery phase. Temperature had a statistically significant effect on the survival of juveniles, whereby, the high temperatures were associated with high mortality, and the lower temperature treatments were associated with very low mortality. Survival was 98 to 100% for craylings held at temperatures between 18°C and 22°C, and between 0% and 6% for craylings at temperature treatments of 25°C to 32°C. Mortalities within treatments between 25°C and 30°C, primarily occurred from day six to day eleven, corresponding with the initiation of moulting. Change of mass of crayfish was significantly higher with increasing temperature between 18°C and 22°C and at individual weights that suggest they had completed a moult. This study suggests a water temperature of 22°C is optimal for survival and growth in a nursery phase.

168 Nursery diets formulated with deoxynivalenol-contaminated corn reduced growth performance but did not modulate the cutaneous hypersensitivity response to ovalbumin or candida albicans

A total of 144 newly weaned pigs (21 days of age) were used to determine the effect of deoxynivalenol (DON)-contaminated corn, with or without NutraMix™ supplementation, on growth performance and indices of immune system functionality during the nursery period. Pigs were randomly allocated to 24 pens of six pigs and assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments according to a 2X2 factorial design (n=6); treatments were fed for the 43±1-day nursery period in three phases (phases I, II, and III fed for 8, 14, and 21±1 days, respectively). The factors were clean or DON-contaminated corn and with (2 g/kg in complete diet) or without NutraMix™ supplementation. The DON diets were formulated to ensure a step-up in DON concentration for each phase (3, 4, and 5 ppm in phases I, II, and III, respectively; analyzed concentrations were 3, 3 and 4 ppm). Individual pig body weights and per pen feed intake were recorded weekly. Two pigs per pen were vaccinated against ovalbumin and candida albicans to measure humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by the cutaneous hypersensitivity response test. The ADG (600 vs 693±28 g) and ADFI (979 vs 1110±51 g) in phase III and final BW (25.2 vs 27.1±0.9 kg) were reduced for pigs fed contaminated corn (P< 0.005, P=0.088, and P< 0.05, respectively). NutraMix™ supplementation tended (P=0.086) to improve ADFI (181 vs 142±14 g) in the first week after weaning. All pigs responded to both ovalbumin and candida albicans during the cutaneous hypersensitivity response (P< 0.05), but DON nor NutraMix™ influenced the response. The DON-contaminated diets had the greatest impact on pig growth performance during phase III and when DON concentration was 4 ppm, with no modulation of the cutaneous hypersensitivity response. NutraMix™ supplementation during the early weaning period may be a means to stimulate nursery pig feed intake.

‘Seeing is believing’: Exploring the perspectives of young autistic children through Digital Stories

Young autistic children are amongst the most scrutinised and assessed in their everyday lives, often leading to characterisations and descriptions that focus on their difficulties and challenges rather than on their abilities, strengths and positive experiences. Consequently, much discussion about autistic children tends to forget that they are children first. While research has considered the transitions of autistic children from primary to secondary school, and from secondary to post-compulsory contexts, there is almost no research focusing on transitions for young autistic children from nursery to primary schools. There is also very limited representation of their voices and experiences being explored, promoted, and valued directly as evidence in their own right. We aimed to address this gap through a project funded by the Froebel Trust and co-constructed with practitioners and families. The project used an innovative Digital Storytelling methodology to explore the experiences and perspectives of five 4-year-old autistic children, and their families, as the children prepared to make the transition from an inclusive day nursery to primary school. This paper provides an overview of the rationale, methodology, and findings of the project to address two related questions: How do we listen to those children who ‘have no words’?; and what do we learn from them when we do?

‘We feel appreciated’

Sarah Presswood, manager and owner of the outstanding George Perkins Day Nursery in Edgbaston, says that while life in Covid lockdown has been hard work, her family-focused ethos is bringing more rewards than ever.

‘Together we make a difference’

At the age of 69, Pastor Henry Mensah-Brown (bottom right) is determined to help children reach their full potential. He tells Karen Hart how the key to success is collaborative working at the outstanding, Cedar Park Day Nursery in Twyford.

Ofsted: best practice guide – observation, assessment and planning: Under observation

What do good observations consist of? Hannah Crown speaks to Outstanding-rated Apple Tree Private Day Nursery in Rochdale to find out

Ofsted: best practice guide–safeguarding: Open and honest

How can settings ensure that staff are fully trained up on safeguarding procedures? Hannah Crown looks at good practice at Little Rainbows Day Nursery